Article: Drought pushing gardeners to get creative with ‘outdoor rooms’

Earlier in September I was interviewed by Suzanne Sproul of the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin for an article about getting creative and personalizing outdoor spaces in light of the California drought. This article appeared online at Press Telegram Online. Suzanne and I had a wonderful conversation about the shift in garden trends and different ways to claim outdoor space as your own. Thanks so much for the chance to contribute, Suzanne!

“We’re seeing a slow shift in the social and cultural lifestyle today and how people want to use their landscapes is evolving,” Kupper said. “I believe climate change is forcing people to look at outdoor spaces differently. There’s the notion that the front yard belongs to the aesthetic of the neighborhood and the street. People are claiming their spaces for added living and now they want to add purpose.”

The first step is to carve the space out, she said, and then reflect. Indoors, people use family photos, pillows, furniture and keepsakes to define their rooms. Why not outside as well?